4 Top Cloud-Based Payroll Solutions
bySifting through mountains of payroll logs and account sheets is tiring you out. Your old-school payroll software prevents you from engaging in more dynamic tasks. Altogether, you want to free up hours every week and ensure everyone gets paid on time.
In that case, there’s no better time than now to implement cloud-based payroll solutions. The right one can help ease your payroll pains and simplify things like time tracking. There are lots of these platforms out there, though, and not all of them are created equal.
Thankfully, you won’t have to demo a bunch of applications in hopes of finding the perfect fit for your company. We’ve narrowed your search down to the four top cloud-based payroll solutions for growing businesses.
Here are a few key things you need to know about cloud-based payroll solutions in general:
- They let you work from anywhere
- They provide automation and flexibility, saving you hours every week
- They provide features like tax reporting and employee self-service
- Top providers offer scalable pricing to grow your business
- Investing in the right solution will improve accuracy and prevent errors
Table of contents
- What are cloud-based payroll solutions?
- Cloud-based payroll solutions comparison table
- Top cloud-based payroll solutions
- When I Work is your new cloud-based payroll solution
What are cloud-based payroll solutions?
First and foremost, cloud-based payroll solutions are online platforms that allow you to manage your payroll process from anywhere and at any time. Traditional payroll tools must be installed on your computer. And since the files are stored locally, you can only manage your data from that device.
Cloud-based platforms are hosted on the internet. That means you’ll enjoy real-time access and updates. You can update schedules and payroll logs from your office, personal laptop, or even your mobile app.
Businesses in all sorts of industries use cloud-based tech to manage payroll. Restaurants, healthcare organizations, construction businesses, and many other niches can benefit from a cloud solution for payroll. But why do you need a cloud-based payroll solution? There are plenty of reasons.
For starters, these platforms can help prevent errors. And that’s crucial, as workers have little tolerance for any mistakes that impact their bank account balance. Roughly half of employees say they would start looking for a new job after just two payroll errors.
Top options like When I Work also include automation capabilities. They can automatically calculate wages and deduct taxes. They will even handle direct deposits, ensuring your employees get paid on time.
Another significant perk that cloud-based payroll solutions provide is flexibility as well as scalability. In other words, they can grow with your business. Whether you have five employees or fifty, you can easily manage your payroll without the need for complex software upgrades. The cost of cloud-based solutions scales with you, too, which keeps your tech expenses low. When I Work, for instance, offers simple per-user per-month pricing.
Cloud-based payroll solutions comparison table
Here’s a quick look at the four platforms that made our list of top solutions:
| Software | Price options | Features | Benefits | Pros | Cons |
| When I Work | Flexible pricing, several different tiers | Scheduling, time tracking, payroll integration, one-click payroll | Simplifies payroll with scheduling and time tracking | Easy to use, scalable, mobile-friendly, Lots of features | Payroll requires an upgrade to a higher subscription tier |
| Gusto | Starts at $40 per month + $6 per employee per month | Full-service payroll | Comprehensive payroll and HR solution | Good customer support, user-friendly interface | Can experience delays with direct deposit feature |
| ADP | Custom pricing | Payroll, HR services, tax compliance | Trusted by large enterprises | Highly customizable | It can be expensive and complex |
| QuickBooks | $85 per month + $6 per employee per month | Payroll, accounting, tax filing | Combines payroll with accounting | Integrated with QuickBooks accounting software | Limited features in lower-tier plans, no mobile app |
Top cloud-based payroll solutions
1. When I Work
- Employee scheduling
- Time tracking
- Payroll
When I Work is a comprehensive tool designed to make your life easier. Its greatest features include its employee scheduling capabilities. You can build custom schedules and automatically create future shift plans to ensure everyone knows when they are supposed to be at work. The scheduling platform starts at just $1.50 per employee per month. You can upgrade to a higher tier at any time as your needs change.
When I Work also makes it easy to add payroll to your plan. The solution costs just $39 per month + $6 per active user. That price point makes it one of the most economical cloud-based payroll solutions. It is far more affordable than traditional payroll services, too.
Once you implement our scheduling and payrolling tools, you can run payroll with just one click. The platform pulls all hours and pay data from the scheduling and time tracking data that’s already on the platform, so there’s no uploading or syncing timesheets. This ensures your employees receive the appropriate amount of pay every single week.
Plus, you’ll be able to see your real-time labor costs whenever you want, not just estimates like other payroll providers.
2. Gusto
- Full-service payroll
- Benefits management
- Employee onboarding
Gusto is a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses that want access to some HR tools. The platform offers benefits management and employee onboarding capabilities, as well as time tracking. Its payment service assists with tax filings and withholdings, too.
Gusto features a user-friendly interface. And its pricing is straightforward. It costs $40 per month + $6 per employee per month. However, even though it offers plenty of HR features, it doesn’t provide anything in the way of scheduling. That means you’ll need to find a compatible scheduling app that integrates with Gusto. That, or you could choose to implement an all-in-one platform, like When I Work.
3. ADP
- Payroll processing
- HR services
- Tax compliance
ADP is one of the more complex cloud-based payroll solutions. But perhaps its biggest downside is its often hefty price tag. You won’t be able to find out how much the solution costs up front, though. Instead, you’ll have to request a custom quote. Be prepared for some sticker shock.
Still, if you decide to move forward with ADP, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to learn your way around the platform. It offers a ton of customizability, but it comes at the cost of a steep learning curve. If you are looking for a plug-and-play option that will deliver immediate benefits, ADP is not it. It’s best suited for larger enterprises.
4. QuickBooks
- Payroll processing
- Accounting integration
- Tax filing
QuickBooks is well-known for its accounting software. The company also offers a payroll solution as an add-on offering. The thing is, QuickBooks only offers that payroll as part of a bundle. You can’t purchase it as a standalone solution, which means you must also use its accounting tool.
The Payroll Core + Simple Start plan starts at $85 per month + $6 per employee per month. QuickBooks offers a 30-day free trial. They also offer 50% off all plans if you pay for three months up front.
QuickBooks doesn’t offer scheduling tools, which a solution like When I Work does. When I Work also integrates with QuickBooks accounting software, so if you are already using QuickBooks and want an all-in-one scheduling and payroll platform, When I Work is the top choice.
When I Work is your new cloud-based payroll solution
When I Work stands out for its simplicity and ease of use. You can manage a small team or power your growing business with our dynamic platform. It will scale with you via budget-friendly, per-user pricing. When I Work also offers time tracking, one-click payroll, automated scheduling, and so much more.
Stop wasting countless hours every month. Simplify the way you manage payroll with When I Work. Sign up for a free trial today.
